NSW calls for lesbian child support

NSW calls for lesbian child support

New South Wales Attorney-General John Hatzistergos has called for the Family Law Act to be amended by the Commonwealth to allow for child support to be payable by lesbian co-parents to their former partners.

Commonwealth Attorney-General Robert McClelland is considering the move.

Currently both lesbian and gay co-parents are not recognised under the Family Law Act or the Child Support (Assessment) Act. The only way for a gay or lesbian co-parent to obtain child support is to sue in the State courts, relying on equitable estoppel: “We said that we were going to have a child, and you have to pay”. This follows a New South Wales case, W v G (1996) where a lesbian couple split up, after having two planned children, the court ordering the co-parent to pay about $150,000 towards their upkeep.

Stephen Page, Harrington Family Lawyers, Brisbane spage@harringtonfamilylawyers.com 61(7) 3221 9544

Request an Appointment
Fill in the form below to find out if you have a claim.
Request an Appointment - Stephen Page
Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Can I Move Away With My Child? Relocation Law in Australia

Relocation cases sit among the most difficult parenting disputes in Australian family law. They usually arise when one parent wants to move with a child, or has already moved, in a way that reduces the other parent’s time or involvement. That move might be to another suburb, another regional town, another state, or overseas. These… Read More »Can I Move Away With My Child? Relocation Law in Australia

Who is a Parent By Stephen Page

The question sounds simple. Who is a parent? In law, it is anything but simple. Biology matters. Birth matters. Intention matters. Paperwork matters. State law matters. Federal law matters. Sometimes they line up neatly. Sometimes they collide in ways that leave families, lawyers and government departments wrestling with very uncomfortable uncertainty. That is especially true… Read More »Who is a Parent By Stephen Page

Posthumous Conception in Victoria: Retrieval, Consent, and the Law

Posthumous conception cases in Victoria sit at the intersection of grief, medicine, and strict statutory rules. They are deeply personal matters, but they are also highly technical. Timing matters. Consent matters. Process matters. And one of the hardest truths for families is that retrieving eggs, sperm, or embryos is often easier than being legally allowed… Read More »Posthumous Conception in Victoria: Retrieval, Consent, and the Law

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board